![Editors’ Choice: Sayonara Wild Hearts Defies Music-Game Boundaries](https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2019/12/Editors-Choice-Sayonara-Wild-Hearts-FI.jpg?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEA0aCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIGx%2Bl7LqytMsjnB2PK6RNYA9uGU9AuckGmOtedKK9cknAiAT%2BwzbvY4sujRv3X0Hqgrgk50mNGG4GAxz1Eoz%2FbZy1CqGBAjm%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F8BEAAaDDU3NzQxODgxODQxMyIM7gQyiGdsDhQf6wnVKtoDL7FIOvCu4Ywuz51tvBhNR6e7UKHshMvWgtf9xUw%2FlUQZFD1OOQ4bpjvHanp92HQdokVk1NPh%2BVQS9AtsP7Jf75IRIVfacvKTtWG2SnUvP040Wc8dE0urYds2KpAhjJVVmSKGukCs1du%2FqfxOB2eQl10VPaa%2F%2BjsbX0EZQF3Jy9%2BAasb40%2FOw6PoZ2O3MUNritAAVZlvGhN0SCFsYdJ2enZGb2SB1mHy87uCmJRxtqQd%2Bg1tRsv80kQuk0DtZ8rCgwncPzcUFYTFv0O%2FzLxn0mZb5ucZfVCTBL4JKMYvDpgc5Wkk6qcnsXVvmgWROe7voGHiG2DfRnLoHcUPZmYJtPzM%2Bz2FWcdEZzj9FGOKG6yrl%2B%2BWLxQm70B6vkt2pGxk3dLwrnqJW6JK0CwQF9mdVx9ly3NzxA09qFiTmBdV8aLPQBOAu3pFnB0%2FRMmqge5pf8owlsg0g0d%2FPyiCmWHrJhmptKvrQxRbC1XVlJVWk9RiqreNDCgvDUMM8fIPriyISPG45sbe9%2FY7GjibvFiS27QRMiBdD2I%2F0Dgz%2BeCP9%2BUp%2BNxOVr6rBRkE5BMTESTUpDc%2BoII%2F7B0FKDtdlyOJ26bIjYMda78pB8dzsenCF4wJWwBbZuCOi%2ByV1MKLwkbUGOqYBRzLaaSmIHFIXD8asStdEqs71JFfEBm9iv2C9Hz7IMgoQ19dMK2yQjfeQvx4C%2Fs5PKhAqUri%2FDNTt9kXM0BD0hXkv%2BF7JUkJ6EB2H0tD1%2FzfIQt19eYB0g%2BA0fsI1CUoz7C1no1mXvef2ofO%2FNU3Er0SJQl6EWVgSSWVRoQMGAN7BvEzwnNVP6Sh85YJjTNqww8auDPNIISxaj4ZnLaM3JgDw2hJsbw%3D%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAYM4GX6NW2TKEEX7Z%2F20240727%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T043600Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=9c98610c9f4b21a9f9ef1ba5879b6751c15c6f6a3c65d7a6f3d344071122c8fa&resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart)
A love letter to music and video games.
I’ve always had a soft spot for music-driven games. Rhythm games like Guitar Hero, Rez, or Thumper play almost subconsciously for me as someone with a musical background so I first approached Sayonara Wild Hearts with a similar mindset. However, as I made my way through the game I discovered that it’s so much more than just pressing a button to the beat. Sayonara Wild Hearts not only fuses music and gaming together, it’s also a nuanced love letter to both mediums.
What starts as an on-rails “endless runner”-type experience with simple shiny object collection morphs into a Panzer Dragoon-like shooter, then into a mind-bending multi-dimensional track racer, then into a 2D platformer, then into a… well, I shouldn’t spoil too much of the ride. Sayonara is a celebration of dozens of gameplay mechanics you’ve likely experienced in your personal gaming journey, all fused into a simple, yet deceptively layered, control scheme involving just one button and one analog stick.
Developer Simogo conducts a clinic on how to layer in more nuanced gameplay concepts to the player without ever using explicit on-screen button prompts or tutorials. This clean control scheme lets the real star of the show — the music — shine. Sayonara Wild Hearts is presented over the course of a couple dozen 2-4 minute levels (similar to a music album) with original songs propelling you through each one. The game is sequenced like a proper album, with tempo changes, memorable hooks, and upbeat melodies buoying moodier, more contemplative tracks.
My playthrough of Sayonara was a sublime one, melding equal parts anticipation and bewilderment over the adventure’s developing narrative, the aforementioned music, and the mind-bending visuals that accompanied each track. Vibrant neon cityscapes melted away into high-speed robotic animal chases through verdant forests. It was impossible to guess where the game was going to take me next, so I happily let go and gave in to its propulsive ride.
Sayonara Wild Hearts is fast-paced and some levels get pretty tricky, but the game will offer to assist you if you fail too many times. I always declined, as each challenging section seemed within reach of my abilities, but it’s reassuring that the option exists for a simpler gameplay experience. Multiple score ranking tier goals kept me revisiting levels to optimize routes and scan for hidden pickups.
The more I play Sayonara Wild Hearts, the more it dawns on me just how seamlessly its gameplay, music, and story complement each other. This is a game that defies a single genre, but the sum of its parts makes it unforgettable and is perhaps the most unique, yet naturally playable title I’ve experienced all year.
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